Fawlty Towers and Torquay

Famous for its iconic palm trees, Mediterranean-style climate and family-friendly seaside holidays, since the 1970’s Torquay has also been fondly associated with the classic British sitcom, Fawlty Towers and the farcical antics of the hotel owner, Basil Fawlty. In February 2023, it was announced that John Cleese is planning to reboot the series.

Was Fawlty Towers filmed in Torquay?

Although the hotel, storylines and fictional characters created by John Cleese were set in Torquay the show was never actually filmed on the English Riviera.

One popular myth is that the hotel shown in the opening shot of Fawlty Towers was based in Torquay.  It was in fact filmed outside the Wooburn Grange Country Club at Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. Unfortunately, in 1991 the building was badly damaged by fire and subsequently demolished with eight homes later being built on the site.

Why was Fawlty Towers set in Torquay?

The Monty Python team including Cleese, visited Torquay in May 1970 to film sketches for their hugely popular TV cult series, Monty Python’s Flying Circus.  It was whilst staying at the Gleneagles Hotel in Asheldon Road (sadly now demolished) that the team first encountered the hotel proprietor and retired naval officer, Donald Sinclair and his wife, Beatrice. 

During their stay the Monty Python team experienced first-hand the eccentricities of Mr Sinclair. Most notably he berated Terry Gilliam for using his knife and fork incorrectly and threw Eric Idle’s bag over a wall believing it contained a bomb (which actually turned out to be a ticking alarm clock).  As a result of Sinclair’s unconventional behaviour many of the Monty Python team bolted to the nearby comfortable surroundings of the Imperial Hotel. However, John Cleese decided to stay on and take notes and he invited his then wife, Connie Booth, who would become the co-writer of the series, to join him.  This was to become the beginning of one of the most famous moments in British comedy history, with Donald and Beatrice Sinclair providing the inspiration for the iconic TV husband and wife characters.

How many episodes of Fawlty Towers were there?

Whilst only 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers were ever created, with the first series (six episodes) broadcast on BBC2 in 1975 and the second (six episodes) in 1979, the shows have been televised in over 60 countries and released on Netflix. It remains one of the greatest British comedy sitcoms of all time and inspired a generation of comedy writers and new TV productions.

Who were the characters in Fawlty Towers?

The farcical fictional goings-on in the South Devon hotel were centred around Cleese’s chaotic and customer-service challenged character, Basil Fawlty with a stellar supporting cast of actors which included Prunella Scales as Basil’s domineering wife, Sybil; Connie Booth as Polly the chambermaid and Andrew Sachs as Manuel, the lovable but clumsy waiter from Barcelona. Other popular characters included the Major and the charming elderly ladies, Miss Tibbs and Miss Gatsby who were regular guests at the hotel.

What happened to the Gleneagles Hotel that Fawlty Towers is based on?

Sadly, Donald Sinclair passed away in 1981 and whilst his hotel changed hands several times, it was finally taken over in 2006 by two experienced hoteliers who upgraded the business and transformed it into a stylish boutique hotel. The Gleneagles finally closed its doors in 2015 and shortly after the site was redeveloped into a block of 33 retirement apartments.  Local dignitaries attended a ribbon cutting ceremony of Sachs Lodge, named after the late actor, Andrew Sachs, who played Manuel in the series. In 2017 the Torbay Civic Society awarded the site of the former hotel, a Blue Plaque which was unveiled by the Chairman of Torbay Council.

Sachs Lodge, formerly Gleneagles Hotel is located on Asheldon Road in the leafy district of Wellswood, Torquay. The site is close to Kents Cavern, a gateway site to the English Riviera’s UNESCO Global Geopark; as well as the award-winning Ansteys Cove, Oddicombe Beach and Meadfoot Beach.

Does Torquay feature in Monty Pyton?

Paignton Pier, Paignton Sands, Goodrington Beach and Oldway Mansion appear in Series 2 episodes of Monty Python’s Flying Circus after their visit to the English Riviera.

What is the English Riviera?

The English Riviera consists of the beautiful seaside towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.  There are over 400 quality accommodation providers including award-winning Boutique Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, Self-Catering Properties, Holiday Parks and Campsites. The English Riviera remains a top year-round holiday destination attracting over 640,000 British and international staying visitors and 1.7 million day-visitors each year.  

To find out more about a holiday on the English Riviera visit our accommodation section for a choice of great places to stay.